Refrigerating apparatus



Mai 7, 1929- T. J. LITLE, JR 1,712,085

REFR IGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 8. 1926 2, Sheet-Sheet l 7 INVENTOR.(5 +5 WMA/#5f ,J/ 715 J?. /0 BY AM ATTORNEY.

May 7, 1929 T. J. LITLE, JR v 1,712,085

REFR IGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ,YI/ENTOR.

MM I l ATTORNEY.

Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES rATl-:NToFl-lc-E.

THOMAS J'. LITLE, JR., 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO COPELANDIRODTJ'GTS,l I INC., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

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Application led Kay 8,

My invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus, andmore articularly to the heat absorbing unit of t e compresser type of'refrigerating machinev which is generically termed the expansionchamber.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a heat absorbingunit of a simple and cheap construction.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists inthe'arrangement, combination and construction of the various parts of myimproved device as described in the specification, claimed in my claimsand-shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the metalsheet which forms the base of mydevice.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the second metal sheet imposed over thesurface of the metal sheet which forms the base of my device, and alsoshowing the line of Weld by which the two sheets are attached.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3. y

Fig. 5 is a plan View showing the second sheet imposed over the basesheet and also showing the location of spot welds by which the twosheets are, at various points within their edges, secured together.'v

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. f A

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the means by which pressure is applied toexpand the unattached inner surfaces of the sheets forming my device.

, Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section of a refrigerator cabinet showing lmydevice installed.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a square sheet of metal 1, with circular openings2 and 3 stamped therein adjacent the edges of two sides of the sheet,said openings 2 and 3 being formed with circular lips 4 and 5 extendingoutwardly and at right-angles to the surface of the sheet 1 ass own inFig. 2 and said lips 4 and 5 being internally threaded to receive pipesor other threaded fittings.

Metal sheet 6 is then imposed upon that side of sheet 1 which does notcarry the extended lips 4 and 5. The edges of said 5 and secured thereinby fitting 11, thereby,v

closing opening 3 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Air, or other like pressureis then applied. through pipe 10 to expand and bend away from each otherbetween the spot welds, the

unattached inner surfaces' vof sheets 1 and- 6, thereby producin asuilicient space between the inner surlfyaces of sheets 1 and 6 topermit the circulation of liquid or gas refrigerant between the surfacesof the sheets 1 and 6, and to cause such circulation to be along adevious path. The device formed, as descrlbed, by sheets 1 and 6 maythen be bent as indicated in Fig. 9, (it beingsunderstood, however, thatthe bending may occur prior to welding and expanding), so that the lips4 and 5 may be connected with pipes 12 and 13extended from .the heatdissipatin mechanism of a refri lerating machine not shown) through thecabinet 14. The sheets 1 and 6 thus bent and connected with the pipes 13and 14 as shown in Fig. 9,

form a basket-like, or substantially U-shaped container in which may beplaced ice trays 15 and 16.. This basket-like. container so formed anddescribed may. be supported in the cabinet 14 by a perforated metal orwire mesh partition 17, which is attached to the inner side walls ofcabinet 14 as shown in Fig. 9.

It is evident that the above described heat absorbing mechanism may bemuch more cheaply and easily constructed than the expansion coils,expansion chambers and brine tanks now in chmmon use, and that it hasthe additional advantage of providing a container in which may be placedthe various articles usually desired to be frozen. 'The device when inoperation has a much quicker freezing action upon articles placed withinit, than the expansion coils, expansion chambers and brine tanks nowcommonly used, because it provides for the articles to be frozen, agreater are-a ofcontact with the heat absorbing surface than is providedby the other constructions mentioned, and reduces to a minimum thenumber of conductors through which the heat must before heilig absorbed.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the arrangement,combination and construction of my improved device Without departingfrom the spirit of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by myclaims pass such changes as may be reasonably included' within the scopethereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a mechanical refrigerating system, a refrigerant expander unitincluding two sheet metal plates joined at their peripheral edges andbent to form a container of substantially U-shape, the bottom of saidcontainer adapted to serve as a shelf for trays, the sides of saidcontainer extending ulpwardly from the bottom thereof and t e free endsof said sides being bent inwardly towards each other, an inlet for oneof said bent ends, and an outlet for the other of said bent ends.

2. An expansion chamber for a refriger- THOMAS J. LITNLE, J R..

